Familial One-upmanship
My brother has a reputation for excessive lingering.
I think he has advanced degrees in mooching and malingering.
The black sheep of the family, the brunt of all our jokes,
at forty-three he still receives an allowance from our folks.
He ruins family dinners by being loud and brash.
His favorite interactions end up in a clash.
Discussing brands of vodka or motor cars or fashions,
he’s bound to expound at great length about his latest passions.
His family is his outlet for letting off his steam.
His exquisite taste in clothing dissected seam-by-seam.
We get no word in edgewise when conversing with this brother,
so when choosing a table mate, I veer toward any other.
There’s one in every family, it’s true right down the line,
but if you’ve one you’d like to trade, I’d gladly trade you mine.
Prompt words today are discuss, outlet, malinger, clashes, brash,allowance, exquisite and vodka. (I took this picture but it is not my family. I took it at a town reunion years ago and it is used for illustrative purposes only. I don’t have any brothers, so the guy in the poem is fictional, but you might recognize him anyway.)
There’s definitely one in every family. I totally know this guy
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i totally enjoyed your poem. I read it outloud for it brought me much glee.
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So fun to hear that. Thanks for passing that on.
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Oh, I recognized him, certainly, and there is one in every family; you are so right.
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So true, Judy! Not in my family, but I surely do know this guy. I enjoy, sometimes, being assertive and taking control of the conversation. Kind of satisfying if I succeed, but exhausting, too.
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